Abstract: A composite selector fork arrangement adapted to cooperate with a selector shaft to resist rotational and translational movement relative to the selector shaft. The arrangement also being adapted to cooperate with a selector sleeve to effect translational movement of the selector sleeve. The arrangement including a first and second metallic portion. The first metallic portion being arranged to impart stiffness to the fork arrangement in a direction generally in line with the axial extent of a selector shaft and the second metallic portion being arranged to impart stiffness to the fork arrangement in a direction generally transverse to the axial extent of a selector shaft. The arrangement including a non-metallic portion being arranged to at least partially surround the first and second portions, and in which, in use, the non-metallic portion cooperates with a selector shaft to assist in resisting rotational movement of the selector fork arrangement relative to the selector shaft.

Abstract: A chip supplying apparatus for picking chips from a wafer positioned on an elastic film is disclosed. The chip supplying apparatus includes a shifting device, a clutch device, a film-expanding device, and a chip-picking device. In the present chip supplying apparatus, the input torque provided by the clutching device for driving the film-expanding device to perform a film-expanding operation is orthogonal to the resulting rotation torque of the film-expanding device. Therefore, when the film-expanding operation is performed, the film-expanding device will not shake. In other words, the present chip supplying apparatus can perform stable film-expanding operation.

Abstract: A shift yoke (10) defining contact pads (18, 20) for axially engaging contact surfaces (22) on a relatively rotating clutch member (12). Inlet ramps (34, 36) are provided at the upstream ends of the contact pads to provide an inlet (36) for directing lubricant between the axially engaging surfaces.

Abstract: A replaceable shift pad which can be mounted on the end of a shift fork comprises two plate-like side legs which are interconnected and parallel to each other. The inner sides of the side legs contact appropriate side surfaces of the shift fork. The outer sides of the side legs comprise sliding planes for sliding force transmission between the shift fork and a rotating shift sleeve. To provide a large supported area between the shift fork and the shift sleeve and to provide a shift pad which is resistant against vibratory stress it is suggested to connect the two side legs to each other by connecting means which are in line with the side legs, and which are tangentially orientated with regard to the shift sleeve rotation direction and extend beyond the end of the shift fork.

Abstract: A bearing unit for linearly moving selector shafts in a toothed-wheel gearbox with rows of beating balls in a cage rolling on the one hand on an inner surface of a sleeve permanently fitted to the gearbox housing and on the other hand on the gear change shaft. The sleeve has a flange at one end by which the sleeve can be secured to a gearbox housing in such a way that it extends freely into the gearbox housing over its entire length.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a clutch in a split-axle mechanism of a vehicle for instantaneously engaging four-wheel drive. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a cable operatively connected to a control switch within the passenger compartment of the vehicle and an actuator, adjacent to the split axle mechanism. Activation of the switch causes instantaneous movement of the cable which, in turn, instantaneously causes the actuator to engage or disengage the clutch. When the clutch is engaged, the split axles rotate together. When the clutch is disengaged, the split axles rotate independently. In another embodiment a locking device is used to lock the actuator in position. The actuator can be locked to engage or disengage the clutch for enabling or disabling four-wheel drive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shift fork (10) for a vehicular transmission. The shift fork (10) utilizes a hub portion (12) from which an offset arm (16) extends radially outwardly to terminate in an outer end portion (18). One or more contact pads (22 and 44) are supported from the outer end portion (18) of the offset arm (16), and the tines (20) extending from the offset arm (16). The contact pads (22 and 44) present longitudinally facing wear surfaces (24 and 46). Each of the longitudinally oriented wear surfaces (24 and 46) has an angularly inclined portion (32 and 48). The inclined portions (32 and 48) each diverge outwardly at an angle (phi or theta) which equals the angle at which the offset arm (16), or each tine (20), deflects at the location along the contact pads (22 and/or 44) where each wear surface (24 and/or 46) is subjected to a predetermined load.

Abstract: A viscous fluid shear clutch comprises a two-part outer casing 14,15 and an inner clutch member 10 between which is defined a clearance gap into which viscous fluid may flow to provide an adjustable degree of coupling between the casing and the clutch members. Fluid is continually pumped out of the gap by a circumferential scoop pump. The clutch may be assembled for reverse operation by indexing the casing parts relative to one another. The quantity of fluid in the gap may be controlled dependent on sensed temperature and sensed speed or sensed temperature alone. A thermo pressure valve provides a pressure force related to the sensed temperature; this relationship may be inverse for failsafe operation.

Abstract: Gearbox selector forks are commonly mounted for axial movement on a supporting rail which is rigidly mounted in the gearbox casing. When the fork is moved axially along the rail to move a coupling sleeve it can tilt and jam on the rail if it experiences excessive actuation loads which may inhibit or at least delay the operation of the associated synchromesh unit and engagement of the required gear. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a support rail 14 which is itself axially displaceable against the action of a resilient means 32 thereby ensuring that the required selector fork 16 movement for gear engagement may be achieved even when the fork 16 is jammed on the support rail 14.

Abstract: An automobile transmission shift fork has its free branch ends formed with diametrically opposed notches with each notch engaging an improved plastic insert adapted to be received in an annular groove of a shift element. The insert has individual side walls interconnected by an intermediate spacer block designed for fixed conforming reception in an associated branch end notch. This arrangement substantially increases the effective insert side wall thrust face area relative to the groove abutting radial side thrust surface obviating the need to increase the depth of an existing shift element groove. The insert has an indented stop wall which engages its associated notch back wall upon fixed reception in its notch. The spacer block exceeds the notch depth by a predetermined differential dimension establishing paired insert raised edges adapted to ride on the annular groove base surface eliminating metal-to-metal contact therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shift fork in a transmission for an automobile having a fork body made of steel plate and a pawl member made of resin fixed to the free ends of the fork body and adapted to engage an annular groove defined on the outer circumference of a hub sleeve included in a clutch mechanism for the transmission.The pawl member has a stepped portion formed at the opposed portion to the outer peripheral edge of the annular groove so as not to abut against the outer peripheral edge during a shift operation.

Abstract: A transfer case fork assembly for selectively shifting a vehicle powertrain clutch between two speed ranges. During the shifting to either speed range a momentary lock-up condition may result because of the applied torque to the transfer case output shaft. The invention uniquely arranges outer and inner nested spring biased brackets on the shift rail allowing subsequent lagging travel of the fork and clutch. The arrangement provides lost-motion travel of the manual shifting controls during the momentary clutch lock-up condition. Upon freeing of the clutch the spring biased brackets advance the fork thereby engaging the clutch in either its high or low speed range mode of operation.

Abstract: A shift fork in a transmission has an upwardly extending branch whose upper end is bevelled to introduce dripping lubricant to sliding surfaces of the shift fork branch in contact with a collar with which the shift fork is engaged for shifting gears in the transmission.

Abstract: A synchronization and clutch control fork for a gear box. The fork has notched outer lateral surfaces. Two friction shoes are mounted on the two arms of the fork. Each shoe comprises two lugs inside its lateral flanks. The lugs are snap fit into two notches in the outer lateral surfaces of the arms of the fork. The two arms of the fork are intended to come into contact with the periphery of a driving gear.

Abstract: A rotatable coupling sleeve is disclosed which is movable axially along its support with movement of a shifter fork engaged with the coupling sleeve. The coupling sleeve has its portion contacting with the shifter fork and covered wear-resistive material having high self-lubricating antiwear properties.

Abstract: An improvement is made to the shift fork which engages the circumferential groove of a clutch means slidable along an axial line of a main shaft. The shift fork is composed of a piece made of material having high wear resistibility and a main body whose end part is smaller in cross section than the circumferential groove of the clutch. The piece is in the shape of a channel section and has an elastic tongue-like projections projecting from the bottom of this channel section. The tongue projections are urged, as being fastenings, into grooves formed at the end parts of said main body, whereby the piece is tightly attached to the main body to thus form parts engaging said circumferential grooves of the clutch means.